Catopsis nutans (Sw.) Griseb.

  • Authority

    Smith, Lyman B. 1957. The Bromeliaceae of Colombia. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 33: i-v, 1-311.

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Catopsis nutans (Sw.) Griseb.

  • Description

    Description - Plant 14-40 cm. high; leaves about 10 in a subfasciculate rosette, to 24 cm. long, white-cretaceous especially toward base, sheaths elliptic, about half as long as the blades, blades sub triangular, 25 mm. wide; scape usually decurved, slender; scape-bracts erect, lanceolate or elliptic, acuminate, typically much shorter than the internodes; inflorescence simple or rarely few-branched; primary bracts like the scape-bracts, shorter than the sterile naked base of the spike; spikes laxly 3-15-flowered, to 2 dm. long; rhachis nearly or quite straight, angled, glabrous; floral bracts broadly ovate or elliptic, obtuse or broadly acute, the lower ones barely shorter than the sepals, the upper much shorter; flowers perfect in the typical and only Colombian variety, erect to spreading; sepals strongly asymmetric, broadly elliptic, obtuse, submembranaceous, nerved, glabrous; petals with distinct spreading blade; ovary ovoid, style very short but distinct; capsule ovoid, long-beaked, 15-20 mm. long.